In the classic cult comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Sir Arthur and his knights must answer three questions each in order to pass over a bridge. It’s a study in inanity, something those Pythons do wonderfully.
Bridgekeeper: Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
Sir Lancelot: Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid.
Bridgekeeper: What… is your name?
Sir Lancelot: My name is Sir Lancelot of Camelot.
Bridgekeeper: What… is your quest?
Sir Lancelot: To seek the Holy Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What… is your favourite colour?
Sir Lancelot: Blue.
Bridgekeeper: Go on. Off you go.
Sir Lancelot: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
…
Bridgekeeper: Stop. What… is your name?
Galahad: Sir Galahad of Camelot.
Bridgekeeper: What… is your quest?
Galahad: I seek the Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What… is your favourite colour?
Galahad: Blue. No, yel…
[Galahad is thrown over the edge]
Galahad: auuuuuuuugh.
Bridgekeeper: Hee hee heh.
Does that sound familiar? How about this:
What… is your name?
What… is your price range?
What… is your favorite reason to pass on a house?
Jeff Shore wants you to move from what to why. In his new book, The 4:2 Formula: Getting Buyers Off the Fence and Into a Home, Shore pleads with readers to stop trying to get to know prospects by asking them how many bedrooms they want. Continue reading »
By Erica Christoffer, Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine
If you’ve ever lived in a condo or worked with condominium buyers and sellers, you might recognize some of the characters in Condo Divas and get a laugh or two at community-living antics. The fictional story, based on author Diane Kinman’s experiences serving on home owner boards, involves four strong “diva” board members in a building where everything seems to go wrong. Kinman explains how Condo Divas came about, and what real estate practitioners might find appealing (and get a few chuckles) from her new book.
Tell me about your background and how you came to serve on condo association boards.
KINMAN: After I finished my degree at Oregon State University, I sold my home and moved to Seattle in the early 1990s. A friend was managing a condo building on Mercer Island and she had a rental available. In 1995, I bought my first condo, but I soon found out that the board in place was ineffective. After about a year, the president stepped down. I decided to run and I won. We completed a slew of maintenance projects, including an interior renovation, roofing, parking lot repavement, and landscaping. I was working as a marketing consultant and writer from home and I found tenants knocking on my door all hours of the day. After about 10 years, I moved to a new condo. In that building, the association was in debt and they were trying to replace the property manager. I swore I wouldn’t be association president again, but agreed to be vice president. I served about 3 years on that board. As you might imagine, I’ve pretty much seen it all. Continue reading »
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